Electric switch



H mm Mw G Bm HG u owvu W u m M m No. 573,807. Patented Deo. 22, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALTER BOARDMAN AND HARRlS BOARDMAN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC` SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,807, dated December 22, 1896.

Application filed March 28, 1896. Serial No. 585,677. (No model.)

To LZZ whom. t may concern;

Be it known'that we, WALTER BOARDMAN and HARRIS BOARDMAN, of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention pertains to an electric switch; and its object is to provide a device of simple and improved construction for opening and closing one or more lights or other circuits.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the base-plate removed. Fig. 4c is a cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the switch-throwing mechanism.

A designates the base-block, adapted to be inserted in a wall-opening, and projecting from the respective ends thereof are flanged plates B for securing the block in place by means of screws, and fitting over the front of block A and secured to plates B is the ornamental facing-plate C. The outer face of base A is formed with the longitudinal depressions A', and fitted in the bottoms of said depressions are plates D, grooved longitudinally, as at D', and arranged adjacent said grooves and hanging thereover are the binding-screws E. The plates are arranged in pairs, one pair for each circuit, and the lineterminals are projected through the back wall of base A and bent downward in grooves D', in which they are rmly held by screws E. Thus a firm and effectual contact is maintained.

From the back wall of base A project the contact-springs F, the spring-plate being fluted at F' to increase the spring tendency.

Screws G secure the contact-spring plates and project through to binding-plates D to continue the circuit. Springs F are also arranged in pairs, one pair for each pair of plates D. Posts H also project rearward from base A, and mounted to turn therein is shaft l, which extends between plates F, and mounted on the shaft betweenv each pair of contact-sprin g plates is a square head or block I, of non-conducting material, against opposite sides of which the springs bear. Two sides and one end of each head are metalfaced, as indicated at J', so as to make the circuit when the head is so turned as to cause the contact-springs to bear against the said metal-surfaced sides. Vhen the head is turned so as to cause the opposite surfaces thereof to be engaged by the springs, the contact will be broken, as will be understood.

For actuating shaft I the angular head K is provided, which is mounted thereon and constructed with the four projecting angles K', adapted to be engaged by a push mechanism presently to be described.

Projected through surface plate C is pushbutton L, held normally extended by coiled spring L' and secured at its inner end to the cross-bar M. To one end of this cross-bar is pivoted on pin N the longitudinally-flanged arm 0, which extends backward to head K, the arm-flanges fitting thereover, while extended across the outer ends of the anges is pin P, adapted to engage in succession the hooked projections K' of head K and by an inward pushing of the button advance said head, so as to give the shaft I one-quarter of a revolution. Spring L' draws cross-bar M and push-arm Obackward to engage the next succeedin g projection K' of the head all ready for the next adjustment, whether for opening or closing the circuit. Projections O' at the extremity of arm O ride over the periphery of head K and projections K' and facilitate the guiding of said arm. Spring Q is coiled at its extremities about the projected ends of pivot N and looped over the outer side of arm O, as indicated at Q', and holds said arm normally pressed inward, so as to be always in position upon head K.

The push-button stem projects through IOO plate R, secured to the inner wall of base A, and this plate,'besides forming a guide for said stem, forms a bearing or support for spring L. One end of plate R has the integral depending arms S, between which extremity M' of bar M extends, thus forming a guide for the same.

The inner casing T ts over and protects the contact making' and breaking mechanism and is secured by screws T to the inwardlybent extremities of posts I-I.

The mechanism herein shown is arranged to control in unison two lights or other circuits, but it is capable of controlling more circuits, if desired, by simply making the proper connections, orit maybe arranged for controlling only one circuit.

The switch mechanism is entirely concealed from View and the operation is extremely simple, a single button serving to either open or close the circuit.

Having thus fully described our invention,

` what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters 1. The combination of base A having an opening, arms S projected from the inner side of the base and in a direction parallel with the longitudinal extent of the base-opening, the push-pin extended through the base-opening, transverse bar M between its ends secured to the inner end of the pin and at one end extended between and guided by the arms S, a switol1-throwing device carried by the opposite end of the arm, and a switch, substantially as shown and described'.

2. The combination with bar M and arm O, of pivot N connecting the same and projected at each end, and spring Q coiled at its ends about the projecting ends of the pivot and looped over on the arm as at Q', for the purpose substantially as shown and described.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with the push-button stem, of plateRthrough which the stem projects, thus constituting a, guide, arms S integral with said plate and extended laterally therefrom, and bar M of the switch mechanism arranged to move between and be guided by said arms, substantially as shown and described.

fi. In an electric switch, base A, grooved binding-plates D secured to one side thereof, the overhanging binding-screws E, contactsprings F, a switch adapted to operate between the springs, the latter being arranged upon the opposite side of base A from plate D, and screws G securing the springs to the base and projecting inward to plates D for continuing the circuit, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

VALTER BOARDMAN. HARRIS BOARDMAN.

Vitnesses: v

WALTER JOHN HALL, JOHN M. BARTON. 

